Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling

Posting Number: FRGV1945
Location: Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Division/Organization: Division of Health Affairs
Tenure Status: Tenured
FTE: 1.0

Scope of Job

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling. Reporting directly to the Dean of the College of Health Professions, within the Division of Health Affairs, the director provides strategic leadership, fosters academic excellence, and ensures alignment with the goals of the College of Health Professions and the broader university. This position is equivalent to a department chair and plays a critical role in advancing the school's mission in teaching, research, service, and community engagement.

Leadership Role of the Director

The Director is expected to:

Provide strategic academic leadership to advance the school's mission in teaching, research, and service, with a focus on innovation, excellence, and impact.
Drive enrollment growth at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a particular emphasis on expanding and strengthening the PhD program.
Champion research development, fostering a culture of inquiry and scholarship that supports UTRGV's goal of achieving R1 status as designated by the Carnegie Commission.
Cultivate a collaborative and inclusive academic community, promoting shared governance, transparency, and mutual respect among faculty, staff, and students.
Lead the school's administrative operations, including budget management, policy enforcement, and resource allocation to support strategic priorities.
Recruit, retain, and mentor high-quality faculty and staff, supporting their professional development and fostering a culture of academic excellence.
Oversee faculty evaluation, promotion, and development processes, ensuring alignment with university standards and best practices in higher education.
Strengthen external partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations, enhancing the school's visibility and impact within the university and broader community.
Advance curricular innovation and student success initiatives, ensuring academic programs are responsive to evolving professional and societal needs.
Foster effective communication and conflict resolution, addressing concerns and promoting a positive and productive academic climate.
Engage stakeholders in shaping the school's direction, including faculty, students, alumni, community partners, and university leadership.

As a faculty member, the Director is also expected to maintain an active role in teaching (with a reduced load), research, and service, modeling the values of academic engagement and leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

Have a PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling or similar (e.g., PhD in Rehabilitation Counselor Education & Supervision, PhD in Rehabilitation Psychology, ScD in Rehabilitation Science, RhD in Rehabilitation, etc.).
Be a tenured associate professor or higher.
Have a demonstrated commitment to student success and satisfaction.
Have strong organizational and management skills.
Have experience with faculty governance.
Have a demonstrated ability to secure grants and external funding.
Have a proven record of scholarship and current knowledge of the state of the field.

Preferred Qualification

Tenured, full professor.
Experience as chair, assistant chair, or program director.
Experience at a Carnegie classified R1 doctoral university - high research activity - or higher.
Experience and/or knowledge of distributed campus models.
Fluency in Spanish.

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience
License or Certification Required?: Yes
Number of Vacancies: 1
Desired Start Date: 02/02/2026
Open Date: 11/26/2025

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